City devastated by loss of State Police Sgt. Doug Weddleton

Fellow troopers, family members and friends gathered Friday to remember State Police Sgt. Doug Weddleton’s far-reaching impact on the city of Brockton and beyond. Weddleton, 52, was struck by a car and killed on Interstate 95 north early Friday. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and four sons, Steve, Mark, Ross and Matthew.

State Police Sgt. Doug Weddleton watched with pride as his 14-year-old son, Matthew, graduated from West Junior High School in Brockton on Thursday night.

Later that evening, as he prepared to work a nighttime construction detail, he chatted with longtime neighbor Chris Martin about Celtics basketball, and about how happy he was to see his youngest son move on to high school.

“I told him to be careful, and that I would see him tomorrow,” Martin said.

The next morning the tight-knit neighborhood was hushed and cruisers lined the street as troopers, family and friends gathered to mourn the loss of Weddleton, 52, who was struck by a car and killed on Interstate 95 north early Friday.

“He was a dedicated police officer and even more so a devoted and loving husband and a doting father to his four boys of whom he was extremely proud,” said state police Col. Marian McGovern.

Weddleton joined the state police in May 1983 and was promoted to sergeant in September 1996. He received commendations for his service and swift response in the line of duty in 1985 and 1992.

“There was a lot of greatness to him,” McGovern said.

Brockton Police Chief William Conlon had known Weddleton for about 15 years. He said the trooper, a ballistics investigator, was a “real salt of the earth guy” who was committed to his job and his family.

“It was family first and foremost,” he said.

When Weddleton wasn’t on the job, he was with his wife, Judy, and rooting for his four sons – Steve, 26, Mark, 23, Ross, 18 and Matthew, 14, in city sports.

“Doug was always there at every game,” Conlon said.

On top of his sideline support, Weddleton assisted with Brockton Youth Baseball, running drills at practice and helping maintain the fields.

“He was the greatest father anyone could want,” said Norm Zaleski, who coached each of Weddleton’s sons. “He worked those special details so he could put his kids through college.”

Neighbor Melanie Martin said watching Weddleton come and go from his horseshoe-shaped driveway reminded her of an endless tennis match.

“Back and forth, back and forth,” she said. “He was always coming and going with those kids – doing everything with them.”

But Weddleton didn’t just watch out for his own children, said 14-year-old Sabrina Hudson, of Torrey Avenue. He cared about everyone in the neighborhood.

“He would let us ride bikes in his driveway because it was safer than on the busy street,” she said.

Martin, with tears in her eyes and her son Ben, 9, across her lap, glanced behind her toward the deck that overlooks the Weddleton residence.

“No matter how good or bad of a day it was,” Martin said, “Doug used to throw his arms up and yell ‘it’s a beautiful day.”